Summarised by Centrist
“The attack on New Plymouth councillor Murray Chong is totally unacceptable and it has to be condemned by all political parties today,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Last week, a slug gun was fired at Chong’s ute, and he has faced threats to his life and harassment of his family. The intimidation was so severe that Chong felt compelled to abstain from voting on Māori wards, an issue of significant personal importance to him.
“The fact an elected representative has avoided voting on an important issue because he felt intimidated has left the ratepayers who voted for him without a voice,” Seymour stated.
“It’s never acceptable to intimidate someone who is voting on behalf of the public because it is an attack on voters and on democracy. Every political party must unequivocally condemn the intimidation of Murray Chong and affirm that he has the right to vote how he likes, sanctioned only by voters in a secret ballot,” Seymour concluded.
